Who Would Like This Book:
A heart-pounding YA fantasy with two compelling leads, this book shines with fast-paced action, a brutal empire reminiscent of ancient Rome, and a cast of morally complex characters. If you love stories featuring high stakes, twists you won’t see coming, and slow-burn character growth, you’re in for a treat. The split perspectives of Laia, a reluctant yet resilient heroine, and Elias, a soldier struggling with his conscience, will pull you in. If Hunger Games, Red Rising, or dark, immersive fantasies are your jam, this is a must-read!
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers struggled with Laia’s timidness at the start, found the romance angles forced or unnecessary, or felt the world-building and explanations lacking in depth or logic. The book’s graphic violence, repeated threats of sexual violence, and heavy themes also made some uncomfortable. If you prefer subtler, less grim fantasy or dislike multiple love triangles and prophetic “chosen one” tropes, this might not hit the mark.
About:
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is a YA fantasy novel that follows the intertwined stories of Laia and Elias in a society divided between the Martials and Scholars. Laia, a spy for the resistance inside the Martial Empire's military academy, is determined to save her brother from prison, while Elias, the academy's top soldier, seeks freedom from his oppressive mother and their empire. The alternating perspectives of Laia and Elias provide insight into their struggles, moral dilemmas, and growing connection, set against a backdrop of brutal challenges, political intrigue, and a society filled with complex characters.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of slavery, violence, and references to rape and abuse.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, primarily between Laia and Elias, with elements of love triangles.
From The Publisher:
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire's impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They've seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia's brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire's greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier - and, secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he's being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined, and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
Ratings (348)
Incredible (45) | |
Loved It (122) | |
Liked It (103) | |
It Was OK (44) | |
Did Not Like (26) | |
Hated It (8) |
Reader Stats (772):
Read It (354) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (293) | |
Did Not Finish (23) | |
Not Interested (100) |
13 comment(s)
3
‘Twas alright
A solid 3.5.
First, the pluses. Elias and his militaristic world were beautifully illustrated. I could spend books reading about him, his relationship with Helene and the arena-style battles. Oh, my goodness, the battles and the near-death situations were the best part of this book. I’m not usually one for too much gore, but the battles were so spiritually (this is a terrible word to describe it, but I can’t think of another) written that I didn’t mind. (On a side note, I wish there had been some religions.) Even though the writing was a bit self-consciously dramatic in places and the Commandant was also OTT, even though I knew everyone would have their happy ending because sad endings don’t happen in books like these, Tahir kept me on the edge of my seat.
I liked the four different epithets as stratifications (Scholars, Tribals, Martials and whatever the other one was), even though that’s been used in every recent bestselling YA book.
The writing quality stood out above comparable books, such as the execrable Hunger Games, Divergent and the like. That and the diversity strengthened what would otherwise have been a run-of-the-mill YA. Tahir‘s prose isn’t as clean as Pierce’s, nor her imagery as lush as Hobb’s. But wow, did she keep me wanting to read more.
Minuses: Laia was definitely the flatter of the two characters. A lot of her plot was spent trying to escape and infiltrate Blackcliff, and I just wasn’t interested. There was none of the development Elias got, the other characters were flat and the ‘friendship’ between her and her fellow slaves felt artificial. The writing was also rather melodramatic in her sections.
Tahir’s love triangles and descriptions of romance are the worst part of what would otherwise be a solid book.
2.75 - I have to stop picking these lackluster books.
I've seen people rave about the series for years but hadn't bothered trying to read it for myself as I thought it wasn't my cup of tea. But I couldn't help myself recently as I browsed my local library. And I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance. Excited to read the next one and definitely one of the more brutal YA I've read
Gripping plot but too violent for me
Amazing. Astounding.
This is how you do character development, how you do plot, characterization, and world-building. If I could give this more than five stars, I would. Maybe not ten stars like
Heir of Fire, but still.
Damn.
4.5 stars
Fast-paced and violent, this one was really hard to put down!
4.5
Interesting story and cool world-building so far. It feel a little bit like Hunger Games mashed up with Wheel of Time. Interested to see where it goes next.
What can you read after
An Ember in the Ashes?
About the Author:
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California's Mojave Desert at her family's eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother's comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
For more information, please visit Sabaa at SabaaTahir.com or on Twitter @SabaaTahir.
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